Marvel boss Kevin Feige has explained why T'Challa won't be recast in the upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Chadwick Boseman, the incredible actor who brought T'Challa to life in the original 2018 flick, sadly died of colon cancer in 2020 - a loss that was felt the world over.
But as the world gears up for the Black Panther sequel, one question has been on everyone's minds - Will T'Challa be part of the film?
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For those not familiar, T'Challa, portrayed by Boseman, was the Black Panther and next in line to be King of Wakanda.
Boseman's electric performance was a huge driving force of the 2018 film's record-breaking success; Black Panther had the highest ever Monday gross in box office history — it even beat out Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
So, when Boseman tragically passed away after a private battle with colon cancer, many wondered how the film would handle the subject of his death.
And it seems that it will be handled with immense care, with teasers for the new film showing a tribute to his iconic character.
What's more, as Feige explained to Empire, the film will shift focus to other characters as well as trace the history of Wakanda.
It was a choice that involved many long discussions at Marvel: "The conversations were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?"
"And how could the legacy of Chadwick – and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas – continue? That’s what it was all about."
For Feige and the team behind Black Panther, it was important that the film reflect the real world, and that instead of skirting around Boseman and his legacy, they honoured it: "Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window.
"And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do.
"The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story."
It's a choice that we couldn't agree with more and we're looking forward to seeing Wakanda back on the big screen.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set for release on 11 November.
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Topics: Kevin Feige, Marvel, Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther, Film and TV
Shola Lee